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Shifting our current systems to reflect our values requires collaboration.

This toolkit was developed through a collaborative partnership between legal expertise, systemic design expertise and the expertise of many diverse and talented leaders running our institutions across the US.

The Turner Environmental Law Clinic provides important pro bono legal representation to policymakers, community groups, and nonprofit organizations that seek to protect and restore the natural environment and promote the well-being of local communities. Through its litigation, transactional, and policy work, the Clinic offers students a hands-on introduction to environmental law and trains the next generation of environmental attorneys.

  • Riley Cooney
    Staff Attorney
  • Katie Bauman
    Staff Attorney
  • Mindy Goldstein
    Director

From values to action

The toolkit centers on action, providing ready-to-use tools and templates that institutions can adapt to their needs and put into practice immediately.

Building the toolkit

The VBP Market Access Legal Toolkit is the result of thousands of hours of legal research; interviews with public and private institutions, farmers, food service management companies, procurement experts, aggregators, distributors, and others involved in the food procurement space; and targeted pilot projects. 

Additionally, we reviewed the robust procurement and food system resource landscape to better understand what’s out there, what’s missing, and how the toolkit can fill gaps, add value, and build upon these existing resources. 

100+
stakeholder interviews
3000+
hours of legal research

Acknowledgements

This toolkit is the work of many contributors, each offering their unique skills and perspectives. We thank each and every person who has contributed to designing and developing this toolkit.  

Food Systems Action Lab

Grounded in authentic relationships with our partners, the Food Systems Action lab at the Institute of Design at IL Tech, develops the knowledge, frameworks and tools to shape a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable food system. We foster community-oriented learning by prototyping and experimenting with a range of stakeholders, combining sustainability science, systems design, and human-centered design methods. 

Maura Shea, Co-Director
Vishnu Raviprasad, Design Fellow

VBP Learning Network

Made up of public officials from around the country, this network of leaders implementing values-based food purchasing policies in their hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, senior centers and other food program sites, have guided, informed and tested the tools and approaches that make up this toolkit. The VBP Learning Network is now hosted by Partners for Public Good.  

  • Latha Swamy, Director, Food System Policy | City of New Haven, CT
  • Sean Shatto, Chicago Good Food Purchasing Implementation Manager | City of Chicago and Chicago Food Policy Action Council, IL
  • Amy O’Rourke, Director, Chronic Disease Prevention & Control | Cook County Department of Public Health, IL
  • Eliana Pinilla, Good Food Purchasing Program Implementation Manager – Cook County | Cook County and Chicago Food Policy Action Council, IL
  • Naomi Billups, Public Health Nutrition Manager, Chronic Disease & Healthy Equity Unit | County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, CA
  • Meghan Murphy, Health Planning and Program Specialist, Chronic Disease and Health Equity Unit | Health and Human Services Agency, County of San Diego, CA
  • Jocelyn Dubin, Lead Public Health Nutritionist | Santa Clara County Public Health Department, CA
  • Anna Prizzia, County Commissioner | Alachua County, FL
  • Michelle Wood, Program Manager, Food Policy & Procurement, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention | Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, CA
  • Amanda Rohlich, Food Policy Advisor | City of Austin, Office of Climate Action & Resilience, TX
  • Angela Baucom, Food and Climate Program Coordinator | City of Austin, Office of Climate Action & Resilience, TX
  • Jason Shon, Food Security and Sustainability Program Manager | City and County of Honolulu, Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, HI
  • Chris Iberle, Food Policy & Programs Strategic Advisor | Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment, WA
  • Laura Alves, Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Food and Climate Impact | City of Boston, Office of Food Justice, MA
  • Aliza Wasserman, Director | City of Boston, Office of Food Justice, MA
  • Dana Bourne, Policy Advisor | NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, NY
  • Sierra Hollowell, Senior Policy Analyst | NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, NY
  • Milagros De Hoz, Director of Policy and Strategy | NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, NY
  • Caroline Howe, Director of Food Policy | DC Office of Planning, Washington, D.C.
  • Tariq Sheriff, Business Development and Strategy Manager | Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), Washington, D.C.
  • Kashaf Momin, Food Policy Analyst | DC Office of Planning, Washington, D.C

Marion Kalb of the City of Denver left her role during the summer of 2024 when the project was canceled in Denver due to budget cuts.
Tia Schwab left her NYC role in winter 2023 and was replaced by Dana Bourne.
Jennifer Herd left her Dept of Public Health role in Chicago in Jan 2026. Sean Shatto continues.

ACRE Collective

The Georgia ACRE Collective: Advancing Agriculture, Community, Resilience & Equity through Values-Based Procurement centers on garnering food purchasing commitments from Atlanta-area anchor institutions, while shifting procurement to producers that share these institutions’ values.

ACRE Collective

The Conservation Fund

The Conservation Fund is a nonprofit that strives to create innovative solutions that drive nature-based action for climate protection, sustainable economies, and vibrant communities. TCF’s Farms Fund is working nationwide to keep America’s local farms working, protecting farmland and advancing a new generation of farmers who are growing fresh, nutritious food for their communities and beyond. 

The Conservation Fund

Principal Authors

Riley Cooney, Staff Attorney, Turner Environmental Law Clinic

Katie Bauman, Former Staff Attorney, Turner Environmental Law Clinic

Mindy Goldstein, Director, Turner Environmental Law Clinic

 

Emory University School of Law Student Contributors

We want to thank and recognize the law students who contributed legal research, drafting, and editing to the VBP Market Access Legal Toolkit: 

  • Alexandra Opdyke
  • Rae Ra
  • Daniel Rothenberg 
  • Kamari Koonce
  • Jacklyn Gunn  
  • Alyssa Rogowski 
  • Brett Lingle  
  • Beth Petras  
  • Clisha D’Souza  
  • Hayley Roy  
  • Kendall Schutzer  
  • Taiye Kolawole 
  • Deboshree (Debi) Das  
  • Rachel Lo  
  • Joy Howard  
  • Charlotte Ramirez  
  • Kyunghee Moon 
  • Rose Heppner  
  • Elizabeth Bambury  
  • Elly Ren  
  • Lauren Kramer  
  • Julia Koepp  
  • Katie Lawson  
  • Trey Parker  
  • Daniel Finan  
  • Dalton Booker (Fall 25) 

Emory University School of Law Undergraduate Contributors

We would like to thank and recognize the Emory University undergraduate students who contributed research and drafting to the VBP Market Access Legal Toolkit:

  • Sonya Doubledee  
  • Urvi Vallapareddy  
  • Ruby Grodin 

Our Supporters

  • Builders Initiative: Builders Initiative invests in and collaborates with non-profits, businesses, and others working towards sustainable solutions to societal and environmental challenges. 

  • Glenn Family Foundation: The Wilbur & Hilda Glenn Family Foundation is a private family foundation that works to enhance the quality of human life by making grants that strategically enhance an organization’s effectiveness or capacity, largely in metropolitan Atlanta.

  • The Rockefeller Foundation: The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy that promotes the well-being of humanity by finding new solutions, building unlikely partnerships, and taking a business-like approach to deliver results for Americans and people around the world.